Navigation Warehouse wins BCO Award

Wakefield offices recognised for sensitive rehabilitation of a Grade II listed building in BCO Northern Regional Awards 2011

Article posted: 19 May 2011

Offices in the North of the UK have been recognised for excellence in the BCO Regional Awards 2011. The winners of the BCO North of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland Regional Awards were announced this week at a prestigious ceremony held at the Radisson Edwardian Manchester.

Winning the category for best Project up to 2,000m² was Navigation Warehouse, Bridge Street, Wakefield, which took home the award for its sensitive rehabilitation of a Grade II listed building from disused warehouse to prime office space. The judges praised the project for its demonstration of the successful marriage between heritage protection and commerce.

The warehouse was built in 1816 for housing grain and was used virtually continuously until the 1980s after which it began to decay. The restoration of the Grade II listed Calder and Hebble property was carried out with the utmost care to keep modern interventions subservient to the historic building and the result is a repaired building which retains most of its original form and appearance and around 95% of its original material.

It now provides fully serviced offices in Wakefield’s Waterfront and has been extremely well received by the public, in addition to winning a string of awards including: RIBA Award 2010, Civic Trust Commendation 2010, RICS Regional Award 2010, Wakefield Civic Society special award 2009, Manchester Society of Architects Award 2009, 2009 Georgian Group Award.

Tony Hordon, Director of Business Space, DTZ, and BCO Judging Chair for the North of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland, said: "The focus of the BCO Awards is to judge buildings from a multi-disciplinary point of view, focussing on aspects such as architectural flair, economic and sustainable construction with fitness for purpose for users of the space. We had a very high standard of entries this year that have really delivered fantastic workspaces for the end user and I'd like to congratulate our winners."

Other awards went to offices in Leeds, Manchester, Northern Ireland and Sheffield.

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Posted by Sam